بصرت بركب الحي للحي سائراً

بصرت بركب الحي للحي سائراً

فقلت لهم ما حال ذات الغدائر

فقلت لهم ما حال ذات الغدائر

I caught sight of the tribe's caravan journeying toward the encampment.

I saw the travelers passing through the abode,

So I asked them: How fares the lady with the braids,

So I asked them, “How fares she of languid eyes?”

محجبة الحسن البديع الذي غدا

محجبة الحسن البديع الذي غدا

به كل صب واله القلب حائر

به كل صب واله القلب حائر

The veiled one, whose wondrous beauty has left

Her exquisite beauty is veiled from sight,

Every lovesick lover bewildered, his heart distraught?

Leaving every youthful heart distraught and wandering.

ألا فاشرحوا لي حسنها وجمالها

ألا فاشرحوا لي حسنها وجمالها

فأوصافها تحلو لسمعي وخاطري

فأوصافها تحلو لسمعي وخاطري

Come, describe to me her beauty and loveliness,

Come tell me of her beauty and grace,

For descriptions of her are sweet to my ear and mind.

For descriptions of her are sweet to my hearing and thoughts.

فقالوا ترى في ذكرها بعض سلوة

فقالوا ترى في ذكرها بعض سلوة

لعاشقها دون الشهود يناظر

لعاشقها دون الشهود يناظر

They said: Do you find some solace in mentioning her

They said, “In speaking of her you’ll find some solace,

For her lover, who debates without beholding her?

Unlike beholding her directly with your eyes.”

هلم نجد السير نحو خبائها

هلم نجد السير نحو خبائها

لنحظى بها ما بين تلك المسامر

لنحظى بها ما بين تلك المسامر

Come, let us hasten our journey toward her tent,

Let us go seeking news of her abode,

That we may delight in her between those tent pegs.

That we may glimpse her between those walls.

فقلت لهم في ذكر أوصاف حسنها

فقلت لهم في ذكر أوصاف حسنها

تيقظ محجوب وتنشيط سائر

تيقظ محجوب وتنشيط سائر

So I told them: In recounting the qualities of her beauty

But I said describing her beauty merely awakens

There is awakening for the veiled and encouragement for the wayfarer.

A slumbering longing and quickens the restless.

رعى اللَه أياماً تقضي تعيمها

رعى اللَه أياماً تقضي تعيمها

وتذكارها ما زال نصب سرائر

وتذكارها ما زال نصب سرائر

May God cherish the days whose [bliss] has passed,

May God make the days she spends happy,

And their memory remains before the heart's inmost thoughts.

And the memory of her remain the delight of my heart.

خليلي هل من عودة لليالي

خليلي هل من عودة لليالي

تولت فإني بعدها غير صابر

تولت فإني بعدها غير صابر

My two friends, can the nights return

My friend, will those nights return again?

That have passed? For since then I have no patience.

For without them I can hardly endure.